Model Studies of the Propagation of Errors During the Inversion of 2D Resistivity Data Recorded with the Wenner (α) Geometry Along Curved and Angled Survey Lines

When recording 2D resistivity data along curved or angled survey lines, the recorded apparent resistivity data will be affected by the fact that the true geometric factors will differ from the assumed geometric factors of a straight survey line. Numerical model studies show that, although the errors in the apparent resistivities may be small even for large angles and curvatures, these errors may rapidly increase in magnitude during inversion. This is particularly true during the inversion of data recorded along angled survey lines where input errors may increase by an order of magnitude within a couple of iterations. Although it seems that angles should be avoided in favour of curves when it is not possible to perform a resistivity survey along a straight line, the apparent resistivity data recorded along an angled survey line may very readily be corrected prior to inversion if the true electrode positions can be measured.